By MAX PRINZ
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
This past weekend, the Fordham Men’s Squash team picked up three wins, including a dominant performance against rival Vassar, to improve to 6-9 on the year. Fordham knocked off Vassar for the second time this year, completing the season sweep of its rival.
“Two wins in a season against them is great. They’re definitely our rivals. The coach there I’ve known for years and years, so there’s a rivalry between her and I,” said head coach Bryan Patterson.
Fordham started the weekend’s matches at the Bucknell Invitational in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Friday, the Rams took on Lafayette and defeated the Leopards 7-2. Freshman Kincade Webster led the team from the #1 slot, winning his match 11-9, 11-7 and 11-8. Freshman Paul Monaghan, sophomore Ross Garlick and senior Marcus Stromsmo picked up straight set victories as well.
On Saturday, the Rams would lose to two tough opponents in Bucknell and Northeastern, 9-0 and 8-1 respectively. Monaghan was the sole bright spot, as he picked up his second win of the weekend against Northeastern, defeating Phil Huntley 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 and 11-2.
The Rams would rebound against Ithaca. Fordham picked up its second win by defeating Ithaca 7-2. Seniors Jack O’Brien, Quetzalli Torres and Garlick all helped the Rams by winning their matches in straight sets.
Fordham got its biggest win of the weekend defeating Vassar 8-1. The team came out strong and ready to play. The Rams received a lot of support from a good sized crowd of both Fordham students and family members. Vassar is a local rival and that made it even easier for friends and family to come out and show their support.
“I thought it was great, it was a good crowd,” said Patterson. “I think if we do start to get a team going in the right direction. I think we’ll start to get some good crowds. The crowd on Sunday was terrific.”
Fordham made the fans happy, getting a trio of three set victories to start the match. Senior Ethan Brooks won his match 11-6, 15-13, 11-5, and he joined Monaghan and Torres in helping the Rams get off to a good start against Vassar. The next round of play was much the same. O’Brien, Stromsmo and Garlick kept the Rams in charge with the second trio of three set victories.